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Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Germany & Greece - perhaps time for a marriage counsellor?

In this recent commentary, the editor of the Ekathimerini argues that it is time for a German move now because Greece does not have the time to wait for the next German elections in 11 months from now. A very reasonable argument.

A reader by the German-sounding name of Sebastian Schroeder who apparently lives in Patras wrote an extensive comment (reproduced at the bottom of this post) essentially arguing that Germany has made so many unanswered moves so far that it is asking quite a bit to (again) demand of Germany a move (again).

I suppose a marriage counsellor who interviews husband/wife separately comes away from each conversation with the feeling that he has just heard the full truth. Unfortunately, the two truths don't match one another. If he cannot find common ground between the parties, the marriage will fall apart at great cost to both.

Greece has accomplished a lot of positive things, particularly of late. I hasten to add that Greece didn't have much of a choice because otherwise the whole problem would have blown-up in its face.

Germany, too - albeit mostly at the last minute - has done quite a few positive things (if prolonging bankruptcy by making new loans is considered a positive thing). I hasten to add that Germany didn't have much of a choice because otherwise the whole problem would have blown-up in its face.

Regrettably, there are no provisions to dissolve the German/Greek Euro-marriage. So unless both parties want to take chances that the whole problem really blows-up into everybody's faces, they might want to start looking for a counsellor, a mediator or whatever else is adequate to help find common ground in two opposing - but possibly equally right! - positions.

I suppose it wouldn't be difficult to fill a room with competent people who can argue that Greece is right. Neither would it be difficult to fill a room with competent people who can argue that Germany is right. The sad truth is --- the graveyards of the world are full of people who were right!

Europeans can be quite arrogant when it comes to appraising Americans. In recent times, sophisticated Europeans have expressed dismay over the fact that the two large parties in America cannot find common ground when the future of the country is at stake. Well, Europeans would have the chance to, for once, show Americans how mature they really are by demonstrating amongst each other a behavior which the two large American parties have not yet been able to demonstrate.

So, Europeans, speak up now and show that you are worth your salt, or forever keep your peace!

Letter to the Ekathimerini by Sebastian Schroeder, Patras
Lets see some German/EU Moves and the Greek reactions:

1.
Mr Roesler came down 2-3 years ago and offered Greece assistance with
the funding of a KfW like institute to support Greek small and medium
size companies. The Greek media reaction was to call him a German-Japanese Nazi, the Greek political reaction was non existent.
2.
Mr. Reichenbach was sent down to help Greece on more effective
absorption of EU funds. The Greek media reaction was to call him
Gauleiter, Anarchists have threatend him and his family and burned his
car even in Berlin.
3. Germany has offered to support the renewal of
the Greek tax system with 180 tax specialists that would have worked for
free down here. Greek reaction was negative again while money kept
flowing out of the country.
4. Mr. Fuchtel was sent down to establish
grassroots connections between German and Greek communities. Media
welcomed him with Nazi comments and Greek polticians tried to play smart
ass on him.
5. The EU offered Greece already 4 years ago support to
overhaul the Asylum System and to establish detention center. Reaction =
Zero until GD showed up.
6. The EU supported Greece with money to establish a nationwide cataster. Result is known, money is gone.
7. Mrs. Lagarde offered a nice list... result is known.

All of the above are moves from Germany and the EU that were badly
rejected by Greek polticians and also by parts of the Greek population.

In
Greece everybody thinks the world is turning around Greece and that
everybody is just waiting for the Greek Vouli and money will flow. The
decision in the Vouli though is just a first step that will be followed
by necessary democratic (parliament) approvals in the other countries.

Don't overestimate also the power of Merkel and the importance of
Greece for the next election campaign. Germany has plenty of challenges
within the country that could even bring down Merkel's anyway shaky
CDU/FDP coalition before next fall.

From all European leaders Mrs.
Merkel is within her country most likely the most restricted, first of
all constitionally and secondly due to her weak coalition partner. In
the outside media though she is seen as a leader that decides everything
on her own. Something is not fitting!

4 comments:

Timothy Franz Geithner will be looking for something to do soon and Lawrence Henry Summers, seems to be under-occupied :lol:

When was the last time the Europeans solved a major European problem without external help?

Westphalia comes to mind. There are echoes of 1648 in the Europe of 2012; the role of the nation state, trade, mercantilism, Colbertian dirigisme, empire building. The EU even has some of the characteristics of the Holy Roman Empire.

If there should be a marriage between the two countries then it is the marriage of the German mental power with the Greek emotional beauty. Thinking with feelings. This marriage is a must for all individuals, all humans, to create a strong completed Self, a strong collective of a people. To create (world) peace.

Let's face it: it is too late for a marriage counsellor. It is time to divorce.

Mr. Schroeder is right. If Greece wants to reform itself - a big "if" - Greeks should do it themselves, in their own way and by their own will. However, the other countries should now have the courage to refuse paying the bill. Effort and money spent on Greece would be spent more usefully elsewhere.

Back here because of the news and negativity around Merkel. In Greece. What is wrong with Merkel? Not that I judge her as "wrong", but the Greeks hate her, very. Why?

Is this because of the always present mirror, in other people, in this case Merkel, telling the one who looks into the mirror seeing something in himself or herself via the other, what they do not have themselves, would like to have it, to be it, or what they reject in themselves because of traditions, habits, patterns and therefore rejecting it in others as well?

Is this because Merkel is female, and Greece is an emotional=feminine country? (Sounds maybe strange in the ears because Greek men look, want to look ((as if they are)) very masculine, their behaviour is "macho"...) In psychology/spiritual psychology emotions are connected with the feminine part of what is in all of us. Men AND women have and masculine and feminine energies inside of them. They are in everybody in a different strenght there, so not anybody has the same inner combination of both energies. To emotions belong also bad moods, that what maybe all see as masculine: anger. That what creates even wars.

The Greeks show to have a huge lack of real masculine energy, a huge lack of mental power. Despite of their very macho Zeus. Because anger is also an emotion. Zeus, the god of thunder has to accept that he is very emotional. Emotional types create wars and despair, not solutions. The Greek politicians are (almost) ALL emotional types. Creating dangerous emotions in the people.

The too feminine Greek soul in all is jealous, I guess, about the female person named Merkel, who shows that it is possible as a woman to have masculine power as well: mental power. And to rule. Greeks hardly have female politicians, and IF they are there you hardly hear them.

Merkel has guts. She works. The Germans work. All works in Germany. Merkel rules Germany, men, women, maybe even Europe, but somebody has to do it.What is wrong with that? Instead of spitting hatred into her direction it would be better to watch what she is representing really and what is missing in Greeks to make it work there.